QUICK NEWS, 1-25: A RISING WIND; GERMAN F-I-T DEGRESSES MORE; A PEOPLES’ EV; 6 BIL GEOTHERMAL BUY-IN

A RISING WIND
Venture Capital Cleantech Investments Rise In 2010
19 January 2011 (North American Windpower)

"Venture capital (VC) investments in the wind, solar and smart grid sectors were up in 2010, according to [Wind Funding and M&A 2010 Report] released by Mercom Capital Group LLC, a global clean energy market intelligence, consulting and communications firm."

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"...The wind sector saw a 40% increase in VC and private-equity activity in 2010, with $277 million invested compared to $198 million in 2009. Large offshore wind projects boosted project funding activity to over $9 billion in 2010. Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions in the wind sector came to a total of $1.3 billion in 23 deals, with the $860 million acquisition of John Deere Renewables by Exelon making up the bulk of it.

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"Top smart grid VC transactions included the $165 million raised by Landis+Gyr, the $106 million raise by Trilliant and the $52 million raised by OpenPeak. The acquisition of Ventyx by ABB for more than $1 million remained the largest M&A transaction for the year."


GERMAN F-I-T DEGRESSES MORE
German Government, Solar Group Reach Agreement On FIT Reductions
20 January 2011 (Solar Industry)

"Representatives from BSW-Solar, Germany's solar trade association, and the country's government have reached agreement on the adjustment of solar feed-in-tariff (FIT) rates. Future FIT rates will be adjusted in accordance with annual installed capacity…and possible cutbacks will be implemented July 1.

"The expected installed capacity for this year will be based on the figures for new installations in the period from March to May. By multiplying the result by a factor of four, the Federal Net Agency will then project the estimated installed capacity for the year."

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"Should the calculated PV market capacity be more than 3,500 MW, further reductions of 3% will be introduced mid-year on July 1. The resolution reached between legislators and BSW-Solar [is to be finalized in February and] has determined that a cut of 6% will be put in place if projected capacity is over 4,500 MW. Projected annual installed capacity of over 5,500 MW would incur cuts of a further 9%."

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"If projected annual capacity is more than 6,500 MW, a 12% cut will be implemented. If installed capacity is projected to reach last year's total - 7,500 MW - a 15% reduction will be put in place. Ground-mounted projects will not be affected until Sept. 1.

"Funding is, as previously planned, to be cut by a further 9% at the beginning of 2012…[A]n audit carried out by the Federal Net Agency will verify that the estimations made in spring 2011 are accurate, and corrections will be made if necessary…"


A PEOPLES’ EV
The People's Electric, Ready to Claim Power
Jerry Garrett, January 23, 2011 (NY Times via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

"The Nissan Leaf, a mildly futuristic four-door hatchback, arrives as so much a pioneer that the systems necessary to keep it moving down the road are still being put in place…Here comes the people's electric car, America, ready or not…

"…[T]he lack of [a public charging infrastructure] is probably the most serious limitation of all purely electric cars. For owners whose trips are within 30 or 40 miles of home (or who can use a charging station at the workplace), this presents no problem…Fast-charging stations, a necessity for longer treks, are few and far between now, but a network of them are planned to begin operating within the next year or so. Leaf buyers who buy the optional $700 Quick Charge Port will be able to use a direct-current fast-charger to replenish their batteries to 80 percent of capacity within 30 minutes and continue on their way…"

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"The next quickest solution, Nissan's 220-volt home charging units, cost $2,200 installed and can give a full charge in eight hours…The majority of public charging stations planned will also use this so-called Level II charging protocol…With the battery topped off, the Leaf…has a range of 100 miles…[though with] charging overnight in my garage on a conventional 110-volt household circuit, the Leaf's meter never showed more than 88 miles of possible range…Nissan specifies a 21-hour recharge time using house current…

"At a starting price of $33,630, the Leaf is by far the least expensive battery-electric car produced in significant numbers; with a 24 kilowatt-hour battery, it qualifies for a $7,500 federal tax credit as well as incentives offered by various states. The Leaf will be sold initially in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Washington; by the end of 2011 it will be offered in all states."

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"…[T]he lithium-ion battery pack is a major part of the car's cost…Building in a battery pack big enough to drive 245 miles on a charge helps push the price of the two-seat Tesla Roadster past $100,000…[T]he Leaf was fascinating to drive…Without the usual sounds of a conventional car, you hear different things while driving a Leaf -- mainly the cacophony produced by other vehicles. At speeds under 16 m.p.h., a beeping sound alerts those outside the car; inside, the tone cannot be heard.

"…[T]he Leaf can be driven vigorously. Its electric motor -- just 107 horsepower, but with 207 pound-feet of torque -- accelerates the 3,400-pound car to 60 m.p.h. in 9.4 seconds…The range meter that created so much anxiety for me, it turns out, just takes some getting used to…Nissan calculates that the Leaf's battery pack, which carries an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty, will lose 20 percent (30 percent, if fast-charging is used often) of its power over the next decade of use…[T]he Leaf demonstrates how much the widespread acceptance of vehicles that produce zero tailpipe emissions will depend on external factors like a charging infrastructure."


6 BIL GEOTHERMAL BUY-IN
Geothermal Energy Steams Ahead With Up To $6B In Planned Investments
Steve Gelsi, January 19, 2011 (Wall Street Journal)

"Tapping into the heat of the Earth's crust to generate electricity has been slower to catch on in the United States compared with solar and wind power, but the geothermal industry hopes to gain traction with up to $6 billion in planned investments in new plants in the next year or two.

"While 2009 and 2010 provided fewer breakthroughs in the mainstream adoption of geothermal energy, this year holds greater potential as the sector looks past the economic slowdown, according to Karl Gawell, executive director of the Geothermal Energy Association."

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"The geothermal industry is seeking about $5 billion to $6 billion in financing for new construction on plants that already have gotten past the tricky part: finding a source of steady, reliable heat by completing test wells. Projects are slated in the near term in states including California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Utah…

"Additional capital is needed to drill production wells and build new plants, but if all goes as planned, geothermal players plan to build about 1,000 megawatts of capacity--the equivalent of one nuclear-power plant--over the next two years…Some technological advances also have made geothermal more attractive…[T]he potential for geothermal has moved beyond its base in the Western United States to include resources in Louisiana, North Dakota and West Virginia."

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"Investors seeking exposure to geothermal energy in the United States already have a number of options for pure-play companies including Ormat Technologies Inc. (ORA), Nevada Geothermal Power Inc. (NGLPF), Magma Energy Corp. (MGMXF, MXY.T), Raser Technologies Inc. (RZTI), U.S. Geothermal Inc. (HTM, GTH.T) and Ram Power Corp. (RAMPF, RPG.T)…Several conglomerates take part in the geothermal industry as well, including Italian energy giant Enel SpA (ENEL.MI) Calpine Corp. (CPN) and Berkshire Hathaway Inc.'s (BRKA) MidAmerican Energy Co.

"While geothermal power remains less prominent for now in America, it currently provides about 25% of the electric power and all of the heating needs for Iceland…Congressional approval of the U.S. tax-grant program for renewable energy also will help improve financing prospects for geothermal…"